HEEL CAP ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A heel cap assembly for use with a high heeled shoe includes a rod, an insert, and a heel cap. At least a portion of the insert is configured to connect to a lower end of the rod. The insert includes an outer perimeter having a plurality of protrusions thereon. The insert is held within a portion of the heel cap, and at least a portion of the heel cap is formed from a resilient material. The heel cap is frictionally moveable within the insert into a selected position, and after a user's weight is applied to the shoe, the heel cap is non-movably fixed in the selected position. An upper end of the rod is configured to be positioned into a heel post of a shoe, to connect the heel cap assembly to the shoe.

Claims

1. A heel cap assembly for a shoe, the heel cap assembly comprising a rod having an upper end, an outer perimeter, and a lower end; an insert having an upper end having an opening therein which forms an inner perimeter, a closed lower end and an outer perimeter having a plurality of protrusions positioned on a surface thereof; and a heel cap having an opening in an upper side and a closed lower side, the opening having an inner perimeter with a frictional surface formed thereon, at least a portion of the heel cap which contacts the insert formed from a resilient material, wherein the upper end of the rod and at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the rod is configured to be positioned into a hollow tube positioned in a heel post of the shoe, such that at least a portion of the lower end of the rod extends therefrom, wherein the lower end of the rod is connected to the inner perimeter of the insert when the insert is positioned within the heel cap, such that the heel cap and the insert are frictionally but movably connected to permit the heel cap to be moved into a selected position, and wherein at least the portion of the resilient material of the heel cap both frictionally holds the insert to the heel cap, and wherein the heel cap is held in the selected position when the weight of a user is applied to the heel post of the shoe.

2. The heel cap assembly of claim 1, wherein an upper end of the rod is inserted into the heel post of the shoe, and the lower end of the rod includes a plurality of threads, and the inner perimeter of the insert includes a plurality of threads configured to connect to the plurality of threads of the lower end of the rod.

3. The heel cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protrusions positioned on the surface of the outer perimeter of the insert form a frictional surface.

4. The heel cap assembly of claim 3, wherein the heel cap includes an opening which forms an inner perimeter, and a surface of the inner perimeter includes a frictional surface.

5. The heel cap assembly of claim 4, wherein when the insert and the heel cap assembly are connected, the plurality of protrusions on the outer perimeter of the insert frictionally connect to the frictional surface of the inner perimeter of the heel cap to form the frictional connection.

6. The heel cap assembly of claim 5, wherein the initial frictional connection of the insert and the heel cap permits movement of the heel cap for adjustment into the selected position.

7. The heel cap assembly of claim 6, wherein when a user wears and places weight on the shoe including the heel cap assembly, the weight of the user causes an expansion of the resilient material of the heel cap which forms a stronger frictional connection and between the heel cap and the insert and prevents movement therebetween.

8. The heel cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the insert includes a base which provides additional support to the closed lower end of the insert.

9. The heel cap assembly of claim 4, wherein the plurality of protrusions which extend from the outer perimeter of the insert form a zigzag pattern.

10. The heel cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the frictional surface of the inner perimeter of the heel cap is formed from a plurality of striations on the inner perimeter thereof.

11. The heel cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube positioned within the heel post of the shoe is also included as a component of the heel cap assembly.

12. A method of using a heel cap assembly to repair a shoe, the method comprising: providing a heel cap assembly comprising a rod having an upper end, an outer perimeter, and a lower end, the lower end having a plurality of threads positioned about the outer perimeter thereof; an insert, the insert having an upper end having an opening which forms an inner perimeter therein, a plurality of threads positioned therein, the plurality of threads configured to cooperate with the plurality of threads of the rod to provide a connection therebetween, the insert also including a closed lower end, and an outer perimeter having a plurality of protrusions positioned on a surface thereof; and a heel cap having an opening in an upper side and a closed lower side, the opening forming an inner perimeter having a frictional surface, at least a portion of the insert formed from a resilient material; inserting the upper end of the rod into a hollow tube positioned in a heel post of the shoe; positioning the outer perimeter of the insert and the plurality of protrusions thereon into the opening defined by an inner perimeter and frictional surface of the heel cap; connecting the plurality of threads of the lower end of the rod to the plurality of threads on the inner perimeter of the insert; moving the heel cap while the heel cap and the insert are frictionally connected together into a selected position; and securing the heel cap into the selected position by positioning the weight of a user into the heel cap of the shoe.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein in the step of moving the heel cap, when a user wears and places weight on the shoe including the heel cap assembly, the weight of the user causes an expansion of the resilient material of the heel cap which creates a stronger frictional connection between the heel cap and the insert to hold the heel cap in the selected position.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein in the step of providing a heel cap assembly, the insert further includes a base which provides additional support to the closed lower end of the insert.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein in the step of providing a heel cap assembly, the plurality of protrusions of the insert forms a zigzag pattern.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein in the step of providing a heel cap assembly, the frictional surface of the inner perimeter of the heel cap is formed from a plurality of striations on the inner perimeter.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The structure, operation, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are intended to be illustrative, and not limiting.

[0023] FIG. 1 is perspective view of present invention, showing a heel cap assembly including a rod, an insert, and a heel cap in its assembled position;

[0024] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1, showing the rod, the insert, and the heel cap of the heel cap assembly;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the heel cap assembly of FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a front side view of the heel cap assembly of FIG. 1;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a right side view of the heel cap assembly of FIG. 1;

[0028] FIG. 6 is an upper side view of the heel cap shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0029] FIG. 7 is a lower side view of the heel cap shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0030] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the heel cap and the insert of FIGS. 1 and 2, but showing the heel top and insert connected;

[0031] FIG. 9A is a top plan view of the upper end of the insert shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0032] FIG. 9B is a top plan view of FIG. 8, but showing the plurality of protrusions connected to the inner perimeter of the opening in the heel cap;

[0033] FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the lower end of the insert shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0034] FIG. 11 is a side view of the insert shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0035] FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the heel cap and a side view of the insert of FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the insert when positioned within the heel cap;

[0036] FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the heel cap and the insert of FIGS. 1 and 8, showing the insert and the heel cap when positioned in a connected position, the plurality of protrusions of the insert frictionally connected to the inner perimeter of the opening in the heel cap;

[0037] FIG. 14 is a side view of the rod of FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0038] FIG. 15 is a exploded side view of the heel cap assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2, showing a portion of the rod inserted into a hollow tube positioned in a heel post of a shoe (the heel post and shoe illustrated by phantom lines), and showing the insert and heel cap positioned to be connected to the rod;

[0039] FIG. 16 is a side view similar to FIG. 15, but showing the completed assembly of the heel cap assembly when connected to the heel post of the shoe (the heel post and the shoe shown in phantom lines);

[0040] FIG. 17 is a side view of the heel cap of FIG. 16, but showing only the heel cap (the heel post and the shoe shown in phantom lines);

[0041] FIG. 18 is a rear side view of the heel cap of FIG. 16, but showing only the heel cap (the heel post and the shoe shown in phantom lines);

[0042] FIG. 19 is a side view of the heel cap of FIG. 16, but showing only the heel cap (the heel post, the shoe, and a user's foot and ankle shown in phantom lines); and

[0043] FIG. 20 is a top plan view similar to FIGS. 1, 2, and 8, but showing a non-limiting variety of different styles of heel caps having the insert connected thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0044] In the description that follows, numerous details are outlined to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention.

[0045] Exemplary illustrative embodiments of the invention should be interpreted as example(s) and non-limiting. The relationship between various components, where they are located, their composition(s), their operation, and sometimes their sizes relative to the desired operation of the invention are significant.

[0046] When introducing elements of various embodiments of the present disclosure, the articles a, an, and the, are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms comprising, including, and having are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. The variations of comprising, including and having, such as, but not by way of limitation, comprise, include, have or has, are also included in this definition. Any examples of operating parameters and/or environmental conditions are not exclusive of other parameters/conditions of the disclosed embodiments.

[0047] As used herein, the term frictional connection between two components, such as, for example, but not by way of limitation, the insert and the heel cap, means to seize firmly while still maintaining an initial capability to be moved prior to use by a user. As used herein, the term initial means occurring at the beginning, such as an initial step in a process. As used herein, the term embed or embedded means to be non-moveably fixed in a position. For example, but not by way of limitation, a heel cap is moved into an initial selected position, and when a user puts weight into the shoe and particularly the heel cap, the insert is embedded into the heel cap and the heel cap is now in a fixed, non-movably, in the selected position.

[0048] As used herein, the word shoe, as shown and described herein, means a high heel shoe, which may be for example, but not by way of limitation, women's high heel shoe(s) wherein a heel of a user's foot in the shoe is elevated, for example, but not by way of limitation, by one or more inches, relative to a front part of the user's foot in the shoe. Also, the term shoe refers to a shoe having a heel cap which is much smaller in size relative to a front part of the shoe, which supports the ball of the foot and toes. Examples of this definition are illustrated in FIGS. 17-19.

[0049] As used herein, heel and/or heel post, as shown and described herein, means the portion of the shoe which supports a heel of a user's foot. A high heel shoe, as used herein (and as is commonly known), is a shoe which has a heel post which is preferably much higher than the front part of the shoe, permitting the person wearing such a shoe to be taller, i.e., increased in height by the height of the heel post of the shoe. Examples of this definition are illustrated in FIGS. 17-19.

[0050] Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, a heel cap assembly 10 is illustrated. The heel cap assembly 10 includes a heel cap 12. The heel cap includes a front side 14, a back side 16, a right side 18, a left side 20, an upper side 22 and a lower side 24. The heel cap 12 illustrated desirable conforms, but not by way of limitation, to the remainder of a heel or heel post 26 of a shoe 28 (FIGS. 15-19). An opening 29 is formed in the upper side 22 of the heel cap 12, however, the opening 29 does not extend to the lower side 24 of the heel cap 12. The heel cap 12 may be formed from at least one of plastic, wood, metal, leather, or any material or combination of materials known and used to form heel caps.

[0051] The heel cap assembly 10 also includes a rod 30, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 14, which may be, but not by way of limitation, cylindrically-shaped with a rounded outer perimeter 32, as shown in FIG. 2. The rod 30 may be formed from plastic and/or metal. The rod 30 desirably includes an upper end 34 and a lower end 36. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower end 36 includes a plurality of threads 38 formed therearound. The rod 30 may be solid or, alternatively, hollow. The rod 30 may be formed from plastic and/or metal.

[0052] Further, the heel cap assembly 10 includes an insert 40, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8-13, which desirably connects the heel cap 12 and the rod 30 together. The insert 40 includes an opening 41 in an upper end 42 of the insert 40. The opening 41 includes an inner perimeter 44, which has a plurality of threads 46 which are formed to cooperatively permit the lower end 36 of the rod 30 to be connected to the insert 40. The insert 40 includes a closed lower end 48 and a base 49 extending therefrom and reinforcing the closed lower end 48. The insert 40 also includes an outer perimeter 50. The outer perimeter 50 desirably has a plurality of protrusions 51 positioned on a surface 52 thereof. In this embodiment, the plurality of protrusions 51 have a zigzag pattern, although it will be recognized that any shape and/or pattern that operates as shown and described herein may be used. The term zigzag as used herein, means a line, course, or progression characterized by sharp turns first to one side and then to the other. Desirably, the insert 40 is formed from a metal.

[0053] The heel cap 12 may be formed at least partially from at least one of plastic, rubber, wood, metal, leather, or any material or combination of materials known and used to form heel caps. However, desirably, at least the portion of the heel cap 12 that is contacted by the insert 40 is formed from a strong and flexible resilient plastic material 53. The term resilient material, as used herein, means a material which returns to its original form or position after being bent, compressed, and/or stretched. Such a resilient material is desirably used to form at least a portion, or alternatively, all of the heel cap 12. FIG. 8 and especially FIG. 9B illustrates the resilient material 53 of the heel cap 12 when contacted by the insert 40. Such resilient material is known and commercially available. Besides the inclusion of resilient material 53.

[0054] As also illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 8-13, the opening 29 in the heel cap 12 includes the generally circumferentially shaped inner perimeter 54. Generally, circumferentially-shaped, as used herein for the inner perimeter 54 of the insert 40, means having a circumferential inner perimeter 54. The inner perimeter 54 desirably has a frictional and roughened and/or irregular surface, such as, for example, but not by way of limitation, a plurality of striations 56 carried on a surface 57 of the inner perimeter 54, as shown in FIG. 2. As used herein, Frictional and roughened or irregular means a surface having a coarse, and uneven surface, as from projections, irregularities, or breaks therein. It will be understood that other frictional and roughened surfaces, or use of any other shapes or forms to provide such a frictional and roughened surface, may also be used within the inner perimeter 54. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the insert 40 is sized to be received and held within the opening 29 of the heel cap 12.

[0055] Significantly, however, it will also be observed in FIGS. 1, 8 and 13 that the plurality of protrusions 51 of the outer perimeter 50 of the insert 40 frictionally contact the plurality of striations 56 of the surface 57 of the inner perimeter 54 of the heel cap 12. In fact, it is desirable that the plurality of protrusions 51 of the insert 40 and the plurality of striations 56 of the heel cap 12 frictionally contact each other and frictionally yet initially movably connect the insert 40 and the heel cap 12 together. Such a frictional yet initially moveable connection is useful in aligning a replacement heel cap 12 and insert 40 combination with the heel post 26 of the shoe 28. It will be appreciated that the weight of the user or wearer assists in maintaining a continued frictional connection between the insert 40 and the heel cap 12 via the resilient material 53 of the insert 12, so that after the initial movement to align the heel cap 12 with the heel post 26 of the shoe 28, the resilient material 53 of the heel cap 12 is grasped via each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions 51 of the insert 40 to hold the heel cap 12 in the desired alignment. 40.

[0056] FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate the placement of the heel cap assembly 10 within the heel post 26 of the shoe 28. Shoe 28 may have a bore (namely, for example, a cylindrical opening (not shown)) formed medially within the heel post 26 and extending vertically therein. A metal and/or plastic hollow tube 60 is desirably carried in the bore to provide further strength to the heel post 26 as well as to hold a nail or screw assembly commonly used when manufacturing a shoe 28 with a heel post 26 to connect the original heel cap 12 to a lower end 62 of the heel post 26 (not shown). It will be appreciated that the used nail or screw assembly along with the used/damaged heel cap is first removed (not shown). The outer perimeter 32 of the rod 30 is desirably sized to frictionally fit within an opening of the hollow tube 60 thereof. The upper end 34 of the rod 30 is inserted into the hollow tube 60 to form a frictional connection therewith. It will be understood that a frictional and roughened surface, and the like, may be provided at least on the outer perimeter 32 of the rod 30 to assist in forming the frictional connection. Desirably, the lower end 36 of the rod 30 with the plurality of threads 38 thereon extends away from the lower end 62 of the heel post 26. It will be appreciated that in an alternative heel cap assembly 10, the hollow tube 60 may also form a component of the heel cap assembly 10.

[0057] The insert 40 having a plurality of threads 48 on the inner perimeter 46 thereof is desirably connected to the plurality of threads 38 on the outer perimeter 32 of the lower end 36 of the rod 30. Then, the insert 40 and the heel cap 12 are desirably frictionally connected together when the insert 40 is positioned into the opening 29 of the heel cap 12, as illustrated in FIG. 16.

[0058] The insert 40 is frictionally positioned into the opening 29 in the heel cap 12, and the heel cap 12 is frictionally, but still movably, connected to the insert 40, which permits the heel cap 12 to be moved sufficiently to be aligned into the desired or selected position. Due to the resilient material 53 forming at least a portion of the heel cap 12 and providing at least a portion of the frictional yet slightly movable connection with the heel cap 12, when pressure is applied to the heel cap/insert 40 combination after the heel cap 12 is aligned in the selected position, the weight of a user's foot 70 within the shoe 28 as shown in FIG. 19 causes the resilient material 53 to expand and causes the insert 40 to embed via the plurality of protrusions 51 thereof into the inner perimeter 54 of the heel cap 12, therefore permanently fixing and connecting the heel cap 12/insert 40 combination together in the selected position, as shown in FIGS. 8, 9B, and 13.

[0059] When the heel cap 12 becomes worn, the insert 40 may start showing through at least a portion of the heel cap 12. Also, the insert 40, when contacting a surface, may make a different sound than the heel cap 12 when a user is walking on the shoe 28, due to the metal used to form the insert 40, which may result in a click noise every time the heel cap 12 (and therefore the insert 40) contacts a floor surface. Either sight, sound, or both alerts the user that the worn heel cap 12/insert 40 combination should be removed. The new heel cap 12/insert combination is easily replaced and connected as shown and described herein to the insert 40.

[0060] FIGS. 16-18 illustrate right and left side views of the shoe 28 carrying the heel cap assembly 10. FIG. 19 shows a side view of the heel cap assembly as illustrated in FIGS. 16-18 but showing the user's foot 70 held within the shoe 28, as well as the user's ankle 72. FIG. 20 provides examples, but not by way of limitation, of some of the many different types/styles of heel caps 12a-12i which may be used in the heel cap assembly 10.

[0061] In a method of use, a user would take the components of FIGS. 1 and 2, and install the upper end of the rod 30 into the lower end 62 of the hollow tube 60, leaving only the lower end 36 of the rod 30 extending from the hollow tube 60. The insert 40 is then inserted into the heel cap 12. Then, the lower end 36 of the rod 30 and the plurality of threads 38 thereon are connected to the insert 40 via the plurality of threads 46 on the inner perimeter 44 of the insert 40. The heel cap 12 is then frictionally moved, relative to the frictionally connected insert 40, as needed, for a final adjustment into the selected position in alignment with the heel post 12 and the shoe 28. Alternatively, each component may be connected to the other separately. The weight of the user wearing and walking in the shoe 28 assists to maintain the heel cap 12 in the desired position by way of the expansion of the resilient material 53 of the heel cap 12 against the plurality of protrusions 51 of the insert 40 (as shown in FIGS. 8 and 15), therefore creating an even greater frictional connection between the insert 40 and the heel cap 12.

[0062] It will be appreciated that at least the heel cap assembly 10 may be provided in a kit, so that a user may repair a valuable pair of shoes. Alternatively, the kit may be used by a shoe repair service as well.

[0063] Although the invention has been shown and described concerning a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, certain equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above-described components (assemblies, devices, etc.) the terms (including a reference to a means) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a feature of the invention may have been disclosed concerning only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more features of the other embodiments as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.